Page 68 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
“No, no, that is all right. Please have them try to be quick, but I shall wait. It will be worth it to give them something of value rather than whatever we are able to rush out and purchase,” he decided.
Miss Hobbs nodded and made her way out. Nathaniel hoped that the kitchen staff would be able to prepare everything quickly. He had to go to her as soon as possible. Why had he not thought the evening before about all of this? Why had he not ensured that it all might be ready?
It didn’t matter. After an hour and a half, the warm cake was brought to him in a beautiful basket that he had requested be decorated with the same flowers as those in the bouquet. Nathaniel was determined that everything would be perfect, lovely. He wanted Miss Digby to know that he had made every effort to make things beautiful, like they would be in a fairytale.
It was a small gesture, but it was something. And all he had now were his attempts to charm her and to beg her forgiveness. If Miss Digby was unwilling to give him that, unwilling to show grace to him again, he understood. But he would try anyway.
And with that in mind, he decided it was time to go.
Not knowing whether or not he would be received, it didn’t matter. He would have to get it to her. So he called for the coach to be made ready and dressed himself as best he could, hoping to appear the gentleman and a great man, ready for her.
Nathaniel looked in the mirror and was satisfied with what he saw. He would now go to her, ready to face the consequences. After all, he couldn’t imagine his life without her and if she made him, he might be always empty.
No, Olivia Digby was a good woman, deserving of a good man. And whatever her response, he would know whether or not he was worthy of her.
Chapter 34
Nathaniel made his way until he saw the familiar sight of Miss Digby’s home. Still small, still crowded in, it somehow seemed more beautiful now that he knew more of the young woman who lived there.
Reaching the door, he knocked with his heart beating rapidly in his chest. Nathaniel inhaled deeply and exhaled in great lengths. Fear penetrated him.
The door opened to reveal the youngest Miss Digby, Miss Gemma. The sweet youthfulness of her expression immediately eased some of his worries. She was the portrait of her older sister with just the slightest of differences.
“Miss Digby,” he greeted, bowing low.
Even her scowl held her sister’s likeness. “You are the earl, are you not?” she asked in surprise and suspicion.
“Indeed, I am,” he replied with a grin, enjoying that her childish demeanour was so easy to engage with. Surely he could charm a young girl like her.
“Why are you here?” she asked, curiously.
“Well, to see your sister of course. I have a great number of things to speak with her about,” he said lightly.
“I don’t think so,” she replied.
He was caught off guard by this. It was rather evident that the youngest Miss Digby was not going to be so easy to sway as he had thought. No, indeed, she was rather callous and annoyed at him. Determined that he should not be welcome in their home, he was quite surprised.
“Well…um…you see,” he stuttered, trying to catch himself.
“What? Why are you here?” she asked again, bluntly.
“I…as I said, I came to see your eldest sister,” he repeated.
“But she doesn’t want to see you. I thought you would have known that. She didn’t speak to you when we left and then she has been in quite a mood the last few days. She did not tell me why, but Louise said it was because she was upset with you,” Gemma told him frankly.
Nathaniel felt entirely downcast at this. He could hardly blame Olivia for feeling that way, but it wounded his soul to know that this was the reputation he had earned himself.
He wished he could take everything back and for a moment he even considered begging this young child to forgive him and tell her that he really was a good man even if he had made mistakes. It would have been foolish, of course. The youngest Miss Digby knew nothing about the world and the complications that had taken place between himself and her sister.
And yet, it was still tempting. Instead, he decided to try and appeal to her.
“I see…” he said softly.
Defeated, he considered walking away. Who was he to try and fight? But in his heart, Nathaniel knew he could not leave. After all, he was here to win Olivia back. She had to at least be notified about his presence to make the decision herself. She had to be made aware that he wanted her, that he wanted to make amends and explain what had happened.
“Might I see your sist –”
“Gemma, what are you doing standing at the – oh…you…” came another voice that revealed the second Miss Digby arriving in the doorway. Like her sisters, she looked at him with what could only be described as a grimace.
